SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER
Daily news & progressive opinion—funded by the people, not the corporations—delivered straight to your inbox.
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
Student loan borrowers and the Too Much Talent Band thank President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris for extending the student loan pause while demanding that they cancel student debt at a gathering outside the White House on January 13, 2022, in Washington, D.C. (Photo: Paul Morigi/Getty Images for We The 45 Million)
'Just Cancel It': 85% of Young US Voters Want Action on Student Debt
A plurality of Americans under age 30 surveyed by Harvard Kennedy School's Institute of Politics support canceling all outstanding student loan debt.
Apr 25, 2022
Nearly nine in 10 young Americans want the government to address the student loan debt crisis, with a plurality--but overall minority--supporting full cancellation, according to the results of a national survey published Monday.
The survey, conducted by Harvard Kennedy School's Institute of Politics (IOP), found that 85% of respondents under age 30 "favor some form of government action on student loan debt."
However, "young Americans had no clear consensus on a path forward related to student loan debt," with 38% of overall respondents wanting all debt canceled, 27% agreeing that the government should assist with--but not cancel--repayment, 21% favoring cancellation for the neediest borrowers, and 13% supporting the status quo.
\u201cNew Harvard IOP Poll findings: 85% of young Americans favor some form of government action on student loan debt, including a plurality favoring FULL student debt cancellation\nhttps://t.co/6SCPfhIv43\u201d— Braxton \ud83d\udfe5 (@Braxton \ud83d\udfe5) 1650892952
Among Democratic voters, the survey found 43% support for canceling all debt, 19% wanting some government help, 29% backing cancellation for those in need, and 4% favoring current policy.
"Opinions on this issue do not differ significantly among likely voters in the 2022 midterms compared to the broader population of 18-to-29-year-olds," said IOP, "as 83% of young likely voters express a preference for government action, including 79% of those not in college now, and without a degree."
\u201cOh, what do you know \u2014 9 in 10 young Americans support the federal government taking action on student debt. Just cancel it.\nhttps://t.co/S4iifjCj2C\u201d— The Debt Collective \ud83d\udfe5 (@The Debt Collective \ud83d\udfe5) 1650904644
The IOP survey also found:
- A majority (54%) of white Americans and 49% of Asian-Americans under 30 "strongly" agreed with the statement, "I grew up thinking it was possible for me to go to college," compared to only 32% of Black Americans and 38% of Latinos under 30; and
- Forty-eight percent of young Americans agree--but only 18% strongly agree--with the statement, "Going to college is worth the time and money," while 26% disagreed and 24% chose a neutral position.
The survey also revealed that young people are increasingly cynical about the ability of electoral politics to deliver solutions to the world's problems.
\u201cHarvard Youth Poll: 2022 midterm elections on track to match 2018 turnout among young Americans; 40% of Americans under 30 prefer Democrats maintain control of Congress, while 28% prefer Republicans (@alanfzhang @dellavolpe @HarvardIOP) Details: https://t.co/P3ncK94vR5\u201d— Opinion Today (@Opinion Today) 1650915607
In what IOP called a "warning sign that interest in voting in the 2022 midterms could wane," the survey found a sharp increase in the percentage of youth who agree that "political involvement rarely has any tangible results," from 22% in 2018 to 36% in 2022. More than four in 10 survey respondents also agreed with the assertion that their vote won't "make a real difference," while over half of those surveyed believe that "politics today are no longer able to meet the challenges our country is facing."
An Urgent Message From Our Co-Founder
Dear Common Dreams reader, The U.S. is on a fast track to authoritarianism like nothing I've ever seen. Meanwhile, corporate news outlets are utterly capitulating to Trump, twisting their coverage to avoid drawing his ire while lining up to stuff cash in his pockets. That's why I believe that Common Dreams is doing the best and most consequential reporting that we've ever done. Our small but mighty team is a progressive reporting powerhouse, covering the news every day that the corporate media never will. Our mission has always been simple: To inform. To inspire. And to ignite change for the common good. Now here's the key piece that I want all our readers to understand: None of this would be possible without your financial support. That's not just some fundraising cliche. It's the absolute and literal truth. We don't accept corporate advertising and never will. We don't have a paywall because we don't think people should be blocked from critical news based on their ability to pay. Everything we do is funded by the donations of readers like you. Will you donate now to help power the nonprofit, independent reporting of Common Dreams? Thank you for being a vital member of our community. Together, we can keep independent journalism alive when it’s needed most. - Craig Brown, Co-founder |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
Nearly nine in 10 young Americans want the government to address the student loan debt crisis, with a plurality--but overall minority--supporting full cancellation, according to the results of a national survey published Monday.
The survey, conducted by Harvard Kennedy School's Institute of Politics (IOP), found that 85% of respondents under age 30 "favor some form of government action on student loan debt."
However, "young Americans had no clear consensus on a path forward related to student loan debt," with 38% of overall respondents wanting all debt canceled, 27% agreeing that the government should assist with--but not cancel--repayment, 21% favoring cancellation for the neediest borrowers, and 13% supporting the status quo.
\u201cNew Harvard IOP Poll findings: 85% of young Americans favor some form of government action on student loan debt, including a plurality favoring FULL student debt cancellation\nhttps://t.co/6SCPfhIv43\u201d— Braxton \ud83d\udfe5 (@Braxton \ud83d\udfe5) 1650892952
Among Democratic voters, the survey found 43% support for canceling all debt, 19% wanting some government help, 29% backing cancellation for those in need, and 4% favoring current policy.
"Opinions on this issue do not differ significantly among likely voters in the 2022 midterms compared to the broader population of 18-to-29-year-olds," said IOP, "as 83% of young likely voters express a preference for government action, including 79% of those not in college now, and without a degree."
\u201cOh, what do you know \u2014 9 in 10 young Americans support the federal government taking action on student debt. Just cancel it.\nhttps://t.co/S4iifjCj2C\u201d— The Debt Collective \ud83d\udfe5 (@The Debt Collective \ud83d\udfe5) 1650904644
The IOP survey also found:
- A majority (54%) of white Americans and 49% of Asian-Americans under 30 "strongly" agreed with the statement, "I grew up thinking it was possible for me to go to college," compared to only 32% of Black Americans and 38% of Latinos under 30; and
- Forty-eight percent of young Americans agree--but only 18% strongly agree--with the statement, "Going to college is worth the time and money," while 26% disagreed and 24% chose a neutral position.
The survey also revealed that young people are increasingly cynical about the ability of electoral politics to deliver solutions to the world's problems.
\u201cHarvard Youth Poll: 2022 midterm elections on track to match 2018 turnout among young Americans; 40% of Americans under 30 prefer Democrats maintain control of Congress, while 28% prefer Republicans (@alanfzhang @dellavolpe @HarvardIOP) Details: https://t.co/P3ncK94vR5\u201d— Opinion Today (@Opinion Today) 1650915607
In what IOP called a "warning sign that interest in voting in the 2022 midterms could wane," the survey found a sharp increase in the percentage of youth who agree that "political involvement rarely has any tangible results," from 22% in 2018 to 36% in 2022. More than four in 10 survey respondents also agreed with the assertion that their vote won't "make a real difference," while over half of those surveyed believe that "politics today are no longer able to meet the challenges our country is facing."
Nearly nine in 10 young Americans want the government to address the student loan debt crisis, with a plurality--but overall minority--supporting full cancellation, according to the results of a national survey published Monday.
The survey, conducted by Harvard Kennedy School's Institute of Politics (IOP), found that 85% of respondents under age 30 "favor some form of government action on student loan debt."
However, "young Americans had no clear consensus on a path forward related to student loan debt," with 38% of overall respondents wanting all debt canceled, 27% agreeing that the government should assist with--but not cancel--repayment, 21% favoring cancellation for the neediest borrowers, and 13% supporting the status quo.
\u201cNew Harvard IOP Poll findings: 85% of young Americans favor some form of government action on student loan debt, including a plurality favoring FULL student debt cancellation\nhttps://t.co/6SCPfhIv43\u201d— Braxton \ud83d\udfe5 (@Braxton \ud83d\udfe5) 1650892952
Among Democratic voters, the survey found 43% support for canceling all debt, 19% wanting some government help, 29% backing cancellation for those in need, and 4% favoring current policy.
"Opinions on this issue do not differ significantly among likely voters in the 2022 midterms compared to the broader population of 18-to-29-year-olds," said IOP, "as 83% of young likely voters express a preference for government action, including 79% of those not in college now, and without a degree."
\u201cOh, what do you know \u2014 9 in 10 young Americans support the federal government taking action on student debt. Just cancel it.\nhttps://t.co/S4iifjCj2C\u201d— The Debt Collective \ud83d\udfe5 (@The Debt Collective \ud83d\udfe5) 1650904644
The IOP survey also found:
- A majority (54%) of white Americans and 49% of Asian-Americans under 30 "strongly" agreed with the statement, "I grew up thinking it was possible for me to go to college," compared to only 32% of Black Americans and 38% of Latinos under 30; and
- Forty-eight percent of young Americans agree--but only 18% strongly agree--with the statement, "Going to college is worth the time and money," while 26% disagreed and 24% chose a neutral position.
The survey also revealed that young people are increasingly cynical about the ability of electoral politics to deliver solutions to the world's problems.
\u201cHarvard Youth Poll: 2022 midterm elections on track to match 2018 turnout among young Americans; 40% of Americans under 30 prefer Democrats maintain control of Congress, while 28% prefer Republicans (@alanfzhang @dellavolpe @HarvardIOP) Details: https://t.co/P3ncK94vR5\u201d— Opinion Today (@Opinion Today) 1650915607
In what IOP called a "warning sign that interest in voting in the 2022 midterms could wane," the survey found a sharp increase in the percentage of youth who agree that "political involvement rarely has any tangible results," from 22% in 2018 to 36% in 2022. More than four in 10 survey respondents also agreed with the assertion that their vote won't "make a real difference," while over half of those surveyed believe that "politics today are no longer able to meet the challenges our country is facing."
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.